Coin device



May 15, 1934. `v FEDERVWSCH 1,9585474 COIN DEVICE Filed Jan. l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 2# Vz//zm Fedi/wm? vill/1111111. 'llllllrlllrllllllllll/ May l5, 1934. w, FEDERwlSCH 1,958,474

COIN DEVICE Filed Jan. l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f f rg- QQQQ.

Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oYFFicE COIN DEVICE William Federwisch, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Y

Application January 12, 1933, Serial No. 651,273

ioclaims. (c1. 194-97) This invention relates to coin devices and refers more particularly to a slug rejector for use with such apparatus.

It is a general object of this invention to pro vide means to utilize the difference in surface formation which exists between a coin and a slug for making a selection therebetween and to cause coins to move into one channel and slugs into another.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a slug rejector which makes its selection between proper coins and slugs through a frictional contact with the faces of the coins or slugs.

Another object resides in the provision of common means for releasing a coin from the frictional holding means and for deflecting the coins one way and the slugs the other way.

Another object of this invention is to provide simple means for discarding coins or slugs of improper size and weight.

And a further object of this invention is to provide a slug rejector of the character described, which is comparatively simple, requires no delicate adjustments, and is sufficiently rugged in construction to withstand the normal rough usage to which a device of this nature is subjected. l

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, two complete examples of the physical embodiment of this invention are illustrated constructed according to the best modes so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a simple embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken through Fig. l, on the plane of the line 3 3;

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation with portions broken away and insection;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a slightly modified form of this invention; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig'. 5.

In the drawings, a simplified embodiment of the invention has been shown, no attempt having been made to show a specific adaptation of the invention to any particular type of coin operated machine. In the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 represents 'a supporting wall 01 base upon which the entire mechanism is mounted.

Attached to one face of the plate 5 is a tubular guideway or channel Glproviding a coin passage into which the coin is initially deposited through a slot 7. Slidably disposed within the guideway is an actuating plunger 8 having its outer end formed as a handle for manual manipulation. 70 The inner end of the actuating plunger 8 has a forward projection 9 at its bottom. This projection is directly beneath the slot '7 when the plunger is retracted, to support a coin as it is inserted (see Figure 4) .Y Normally the coin in its initial 75 position engages the end wall 10 of the plunger from which the projection 9 extends, but if it should roll forwardly' on the projection 9, displacement therefrom is prevented by an upwardly directed spring finger 11 secured in the bottom of the guideway 6 and adapted to bedepressed by the forward motion of the plunger.

As the plunger is pushed in, it carries the coin forwardly'between a pair of gripping jaws 12 and 13. The jaw 12 is stationary and may be secured directly to the plate 5, as' shown. The jaw 13 has an extension 14 by which it is hingedly mounted on a pin 15, the pin 15 being carried by a bracket 16 mounted on the plate 5. The jaw 13 is thus movable toward and away from the fixed jaw 12 and is yieldably urged toward the xed jaw by a tortion spring 17 coiled about the pin l5 and having one end bearing against the extension 14 and its other end connected, as at 18, with an adjusting screw 19 by which the degree of tension holding the movable jaw may be conveniently regulated.

The inner'faces of the jaws are serrated, as at 20, or roughened in any other suitable manner, and the degree of tension with which the jaws are held together is so adjusted that a proper coin, by reason of its comparatively rough faces, is frictionally held, whereas a smooth faced slug is dropped, upon retraction of the plunger and the withdrawal of the underhanging projection 9 from beneath the coin.

During the insertion of the coin between the jaws, its forward movement is arrested by stop means 21 preferably carried by the jaw l2. The coin is thus held against being thrown too far forward by momentum given it as a result of a too sudden or rapid thrust of the plunger.

iis-

As stated, a perfectly smooth coin or a slug is dropped from between the jaws immediately upon the withdrawal of the plunger, and as it is desired to conduct the smooth coins or slugs to the exterior of the machine, a swingingly mounted deflector plate or gate 22 is disposed directly beheath the gripping jaws to direct the falling slug or smooth coin into a chute 23 which leads to any convenient outlet (not shown). The gate22 is swingingly mounted at its bottom edge with its upper edge arranged to swing to one side or the other of the coin held between the jaws.I As a matter of convenience, the gate is mounted be# tween the flanges of a second chute 2 4 disposed between the chute 23 and the plate 5. This second chute 24 leads to the mechanism to be coin actuated and receives the proper coins.

The gate 22, when the actuating plunger 8 is fully inserted in the guide 6, is in an inclined position (Figures 1 and 3) being so held by a leaf spring 25 fixed, as at 26, to the guideway 6 with its outer free end engaging a lateral projection 27 i. on an arm 28 fixed to the gate. The gate remains in this inclined position until the plunger 8 is fully retracted whereupon, as will be later described, the gripping jaws are spread and the gate is moved to its perpendicular position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. However, the position of the gate and the jaws is not disturbed during the degree of retraction of the plunger necessary to withdraw its supporting end 9 from beneath the coin disposed between the jaws so that smooth faced objects or slugs dropping from between the jaws as soon as the support 9 is withdrawn, will beguided by the gate into the discarding chute 23.

The upper edge of the gate 22 (Figure 3) when in its inclined position, lies directly beneath the fixed jaw l2 so as not to restrict the free passage cf slugs down into the chute 23.

The gate 22 is swung outwardly to direct proper coins into the chute 24 by the complete withdrawal of the actuatingplunger 8, and release of such proper coins from the gripping jaws is also effected by the complete withdrawal of the plunger 8. For this purpose, the plunger carries a pin 29 which extends through an elongated slot 30 in the wall of thertube 6 to engage an inclined portionl 31 of the spring arm 25 and cause the free end thereof to move outwardly. As the free end of the arm 25 is forced outward, it engages an extension 32 which overlies the extension 27 and is also carried bythe lateral arm 28.

After engagement of the free end of the arm 25 with the extension 32 continued outward movement of the plungerswings the gate 22 toa substantially vertical position shown in ldotted lines in Figure 3, to positively direct a coin falling from between vthe jaws into the chute 24.

To release the coin from the jaws, the movable jaw 13 is provided with a depending finger 33 which overlies the upper end of the gate and is engagedvthereby as it swings outwardly. In its normal position the nger 33 is spaced from the gate so as to permit the gate to move a substantial distance toward its vertical position before the coin is released to preclude improper delivery of the coin. v

A transverse bead 34 formed in the spring `arin 25 adjacent its fixed end receives the pin 29 as the plunger is withdrawn to releasably hold the plunger in its outer position.

The operation and functioning of the device e may be briefly summed up as follows:

Upon the insertion of a coin or slug into the guideway 6 through the opening 7 and the subsequent inward projection of the plunger 8, the coin is deposited between the gripping jaws. If it is a proper coin, it is held by the jaws after the plunger is retracted, but a slug or unusually smooth faced coin drops immediately upon the retraction of the plunger and falls onto the gate or deector plate 22 before this element is moved by the complete retraction of the plunger. Hence, the slug or smooth faced coin is conducted to the chute 23 which leads to an outlet on the exterior ofthe machine. On the other hand, a proper coin is held between the frictional jaws until the plunger has been completely withdrawn and the gate or deflector plate 22 actuated thereby to direct the coin into the other chute 24 leading to the mechanism to be operated.

Where it is desired to guard against the entrance of coins of improper size and weight, a modified construction embodying a discarding mechanism may be employed. Figs. 5 and 6 show such a construction. In the embodiment,

shown in these two views, the friction jaws l2 and 13 are of the same design and are mounted and yieldably held closed in the same manner as in the embodiment hereinbefore described. Likewise, the chutes 23 and 24 and the gate 22 to determine into which chute the falling coin drops, are of the same construction.l The manner of depositing the coin between the friction jaws and the specific means for moving the gate 22 and opening the friction jaws, however, is slightly different. In place of the handle projecting from the end of the plunger 8, there isa handle 36 projecting from its Yside through the elongated slot 30. A bell crank lever 37, pivotally mounted as at 38, has one end 39 lying inr the path of the handle 36 adjacent one end of the slot 30 to be engaged by the handle upon retraction of the plunger. The opposite end 40 of the bell crank lever is directed laterally and inclined to engage under the extension 28 Xed to the gate 22 and cam the same outwardly. An expansile spring 41 normally holds'the bell crank lever in its inoperative position defined by a stop pin 42, and a leaf spring 43, having its free end bearing on the outer face of the gate 22, serves to hold the gate in its normal position from which it is moved by the actuation ofthe bell crank lever 37. n

To avoid the passage of coins of improper siz'e' to the friction jaws and thereafter to the machine to be operated, a novel discarding mecha-'- nism indicated generally vby the numeral 44 is provided. This mechanism comprises a trough 45 pivotally mounted to swing above the friction jaws about a pin 46 carried by a standard r47. The pivotal mounting for the trough and the length of the trough is such that its outer free end swings vdown to a yposition directing a coin' onto the forward rend of the plunger 8, the top of the channel in which the plunger operates being cut away to aiford passage for the coin.

A stop plate 48 limits the downward swinging the chute) the weight of such coin is suflicient to release the trough from its spring catch and tilt the same downwardly to its position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

If the coin is of the proper denomination and, therefore, of the proper diameter, it passes down onto the plunger 8 to be carried between the friction jaws, but if the coin is larger, it will be held at the mouth of the trough by a wall 54. This wall 54 is iixed at a distance from the lower edge of the trough bottom when the trough is in discharging position so that a proper coin will just pass therethrough, but anything larger will be held against passage onto the plunger 8.

A coin held by the wall 54 and the bottom of the trough will be thrown out by the actuation of the handle 35 in the following manner: A bell crank lever 55 is pivotally mounted as at 56 with one arm 57 lying in the path of the actuating handle 36 and its other arm 58 projecting outwardly and carrying a bumper 59 at its extremity to engage the undersurface of the trough 45. Normally, the bell crank lever 55 assumes a position shown in Fig. 6, with its bumper resting on the stop plate 48. As the handle controlling the plunger 8 is actuated, the bell crank lever 55 is rocked about its pivotal mounting and imparts substantially a hammer blow to the trough to kick a coin of larger diameter out over the wall 54 to drop into any suitable collecting medium. 'Ihe action of the bell crank lever 55 also assists the spring 49 to carry the trough to its elevated position.

In the event a coin or slug lighter and smaller than the proper coin is disposed in the trough 45, its reduced weight will be insufcient to release the trough from its spring catch, so that such coin or slug will merely roll down the trough to be discarded.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a coin device of the character described, complementary jaws having means to frictionally grip and hold a coin positioned therebetween, said jaws being separable but otherwise imm-ovable the frictional grip of said means being insumcient to retain a smooth faced slug whereby such slug drops from between said jaws, means to direct a slug falling from between said jaws toward one destination and movable to direct a coin falling from between said jaws toward another destinati-on, and means to separate the jaws to release a coin held therebetween.

2. In a coin device of the character described, complementary separable members having means to frictionally grip and hold a coin placed therebetween, the frictional grip of said means being insufficient to retain a smooth faced slug placed therebetween whereby such slug drops from between said complementary members, means to position a coin between said complementary members, and means operable by said last mentioned means to release a held coin from between said complementary members and direct it to a predetermined destination.

3. In a coin device of the character described, complementary separable members having means to frictionally grip and hold a coin placed therebetween, the frictional grip of said means being insufcient to retain a smooth faced slug placed therebetween whereby such slug drops from between such complementary members, means to move a coin or smooth faced slug between said members, a deflector to guide a slug dropping from between said complementary members into one channel, and means to successively move said deector to a position guiding a coin dropping from between said complementary members into another channel and subsequently separate said members to release the coin.

4. In a coin device of the character described, a pair of separable members arranged to receive a coin therebetween, means to move ay coin or smooth faced slug between said members, means to yieldably urge one of said members toward the other, friction means on the inner faces of said members to co-act with the surface formations of a proper coin and hold a 'coin placed therebetween, the frictional grip or" said means being insuflicient to retain a smooth faced slug placed between said members whereby said slug drops from the between said members, two channels having their entrances beneath the separable members, one of saidk channels being adapted to conduct slugs to a predetermined destination and the other being adapted to conduct proper coins to another destination, a dei-lector beneath said separable members to guide slugs into the rst mentioned channel and proper coins into the second mentioned channel, and positively operable means to eiect the release of a coin from said members and to operate the delector in coordination with the release of a coin.

5. In a coin device of the character described, a pair of separable members arranged to receive a coin therebetween, means to yieldably urge one of said members toward the other, friction means on the inner faces of said members to co-act with the surface formations of a proper coin and hold a coin placed therebetween, the frictional grip of said means being insuflicient to retain `a smooth faced slug placed between said members whereby said slug drops from between said members, two coin channels having their entrances beneath the separable members, one of said channels being adapted to conduct slugs to a predetermined destination and the other being adapted to conduct proper coins to another destination, a deflector beneath said separable members to guide slugs into the first mentioned channel and proper coins into the second mentioned channel, said deilector normally being a position to conduct slugs into the first mentioned channel and being movable to conduct proper coins into the second mentioned channel, means to move said deflector vto its position conducting proper coins into said second mentioned channel, and means to separate said members to release a proper coin.

6. In a coin device of the character described, two coin conducting channels having their entrances adjacent each other, friction means above the entrances to` said channels to receive coins and co-act with the surface formations thereof to hold proper coins but release smooth faced slugs, means to deposit a coin or a smooth faced slug in said friction means, means directly beneath said friction means to direct slugs falling from said friction means into one channel, means to-move said directing means so as to direct coins released from the friction means into the mouth of the other of said channels, and positively operable means to effect the release of a coin from said friction means.

7. In a coin device of the character described, two coin conducting channels having their entrances adjacent each other, friction means abover the entrances to said channels to receive coins and co-act with the surface formations thereof to hold proper coins but release smooth faced slugs, means directly beneath said friction means to direct slugs falling from the friction means into the mouth of one of saidl channels and operable on the friction means to release proper coins from the friction means and conduct them into the entrance of the other channel and means to operate said directing means.

8. In a coin device of the character described, two coin conducting channels having their entrances adjacent each other, friction means above the entrances to said channels to receive coins, said friction means co-acting with the surface formations of the coins to hold proper coins vand to allow smooth faced slugs to pass therefrom, a deflector beneath the friction means to direct slugs falling from said friction means into the entrance of one of said channels, actuating means to move said deflector to a position directing coins into the entrance of the other channel, and means to effect the release of proper coins from said friction means upon shifting of said deflector.

9. In a coin device of the character described, two chutes having their entrances adjacent each other, means to convey coins to a position above the entrances to said chutes and to support coins in said position against dropping, said last mentioned means being retractable to permit a coin to drop, friction means engageable with a coin i disposed above said chute entrances, said friction means co-acting with the surface formations of the coins to hold proper coins against dropping upon retraction of said supporting means but permitting smooth faced slugs to drop substantially Iimmedia'tely after retraction of said supporting means, movable means to direct coins or slugs into one or the other of said chutes, and means to effect movement of said movable means and the release of a coin from said friction means.

1'0. In a coin device of the character described, two chutes having their entrances adjacent each other, means to convey coins to a position above the entrances to said chutes and to support coins against dropping in said position above the entrances to the chutes, said last mentioned means being retractable to permit a coin to drop, friction means engageable with a coin disposed above said chute entrances, said friction lmeans coacting with the surface formations of the coins to hold proper coins against dropping upon retraction of said supporting means but permitting smooth faced slugs to drop substantially immediately after retraction of said supporting means, a deilector to guide slugs into the entrance of one of the chutes and operable to guide a proper coin into the entrance of the other chute and to effect the release of a proper coin from said friction means, and means to actuate said deflector by the withdrawal of said supporting means,

1l. In a coin device of the character described, friction means to receive a coin, said friction means co-actin'g with the surface formationsof the coin whereby only proper coins are held and smooth faced slugs are permitted to drop therefrom, a plunger' movable to carry coins to said friction means and to support the same thereat until said plunger is retracted a predetermined distance whereby slugs are permitted to drop as the plunger is retracted said predetermined distance, a deflector to guide falling slugs to a predetermined destination and operable to a position directing proper coins when released from the friction means to another predetermined destination, and means operable by continued retract-ion of the plunger to move said defle'ctor and releases, proper coin from the friction means.

l2. In A'a coi-n device of the character described, friction means operable to effect a separation between coins and smooth slugs, a member to decoins larger than a predetermined size.

13. In -a `coin device-of the character described, friction means to co-act with the surface formations of coins and effect a separation between proper coins and smooth slugs, a member to deposit coins between said friction means, a pivoted trough to carry coins to said member, a xed Wall co-acting with the trough to form a gauge restricting 'the passage of'coins'to a proper size, and means operable upon actuation of said coin depositing Vmember to actuate said trough and discharge such coins so held. t

14. In a coin device, a member to carry coins to a predetermined destination, and mechanism to contro-l the 'passage of coins to said member, whereby coins lighter than the weight of a proper coin or of larger diameter than a propel' coin are prevented from passing to said member, comprising, an inclined trough pivotally mounted to swing its v'discharge `end int-o a position directing a coin onto said member, releasable means normally holding said free end of the inclined trough elevated, the release of said means requiring fan increase in weight of thetrough equal to that afforded by a proper coin so that coins of lesser weight are incapable of tilting the trough, 'and a 'fixed wall co-acting with the free end of the trough to denne a Ymetering gauge preventing the passage of coins larger than a predetermined diameter.

l5. In a coin device, a member to carry coins to a predetermined destination, and mechanism to control the passage of coins to said member,

whereby coins lighter than the weight of a properk coin or of larger diameter than a proper coin are prevented from .passing to said member, coinprising, ani inclined trough .pivotally mounted to swing its discharge end into a position directing a coin onto said member, releasable means normally holding said free end of the inclined trough elevated, the release of said means requiring an increase in weight of the trough equal to that afforded by a proper coin so that coins of lesser weight are incapable of tilting the trough, a xed wall co-acti-ng with the free end of the trough to define a metering gauge preventing the passage of coins larger than a predetermined diameter, and means to forcibly elevate `the free end of the chute to discharge coins of excessive diameter.

16. In a coin device, means for detecting and discarding slugs comprising, complementary jaws having serrated surfaces to coact with the surface formations of a 'proper coin to hold the same by frictional contact, 'said frictional contact being suflicient by reason of the uneven faces of a proper coin to hold such proper coin, but being insufficient to retain a smooth faced slug, means to release a coin from said jaws, a deflector beneath the jaws to direct slugs falling therefrom one way and to guide a coin released from the jaws another way, and means coordinated with the actuation Iof the 'coin releasing mea-ns to move the deflector.

WILLIAM FEDERWISCH.

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